South Pacific and Southeast Asia Snowbird Destinations

By Jill Wykes – Editor, Snowbirdadvisor.ca

Many Canadian snowbirds want to explore farther afield than the U.S. and Mexico, with some venturing as far as Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Keep in mind that these destinations are counter-seasonal to Canada, so our winter is their summer.

While you can’t drive there and the flights are longer and more costly, once you get there the cost of living can be quite affordable.

Many tour operators specializing in the region offer long stay options that include accommodation for a month or more and include a flight and sometimes a rental car. These packages can offer considerable savings compared with booking it all individually yourself.

When travelling to this part of the world, you should always ask an experienced travel agent for assistance to save time and money.

Australia

Australia is a vast country with much to see and explore, and if you’ve never been, you will probably want to discover some of the iconic highlights such as the Sydney Opera House and Ayers Rock. However, the majority of snowbirds settle on Australia’s east coast north of Sydney in various communities all the way to Brisbane and up to the incomparable Great Barrier Reef.

There are many different types of accommodation available for long-term rentals and living costs can be quite reasonable. Another advantage is that everyone speaks English and you’ll enjoy Western cuisine everywhere. Add to this the many wonderful Australian wines!

Getting to Australia requires either a long flight from Canada or somewhat shorter flights by stopping in Hawaii, Fiji or New Zealand.

The Gold Coast

The Australian Gold Coast is a region south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast and is famous for its golden sandy beaches and surfing – including at Surfers Paradise. A popular tourism destination, the Gold Coast also has theme parks and lots of attractions, restaurants and bars.

You’ll find great hiking in Lamington National Park and bird watchers and nature lovers will have lots to discover including rare birds, rainforest and waterfalls.

The Central Coast

The Central Coast in New South Wales just north of Sydney is home to Hardys Bay, Terrigal and Avoca Beach with great beaches and surfing.

The Central Coast attracts a lot of locals and tourists on weekends but is also a suitable destination for snowbirds with its local villages, boutique hotels and rental apartments along the spectacular coastline. There are also several national parks nearby to explore.

The Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast refers to the Pacific beaches and surfing area in southern Queensland, north of Brisbane up to the Cooloola section of Great Sandy National Park. You’ll find sand dunes and mangrove forests here and you can explore Noosa Heads for shopping and hiking in Noosa National Park.

New Zealand

New Zealand is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean about 900 miles east of Australia and consists of the North Island and South Island.

New Zealand has spectacular scenery, dramatic landscapes and a cooler climate than much of Australia, with more rain in some regions. New Zealand does however have some subtropical regions in the north of the country, where it can be very warm during the summer.

Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands is a subtropical region – an ideal spot for snowbirds to spend the winter. There’s beautiful scenery with plenty of beaches and watersports. You’ll find lots to do including exploring the subtropical rainforests, taking ferries to get around the islands and discover wildlife including penguins, dolphins, whales and many birds.

Also popular for fishing, sailing and big game fishing, the Bay of Islands is made up of 144 islands. Snowbirds can choose from apartments, guesthouses, historic inns, lodges, motels and holiday parks. The region is a three-hour drive – or 40 minute flight – from Auckland.

Bay of Plenty

Snowbirds can also spend longer periods in the Bay of Plenty on the northern coast of the North Island. This region has many orchards and gardens producing fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as local wineries. Whale watching is also popular – you can see blue and humpback whales migrating.

Mount Maunganui, near Tauranga has spectacular surfing beaches and White Island has an active volcano where you can walk the rim. Nearby Rotorua is also very popular for its Māori cultural centres.

The Bay of Plenty is one of the warmest regions in New Zealand with plenty of sunshine. The area offers a variety of long-term accommodation options such as long-term hotels, apartments, motels and holiday parks.

Thailand

Thailand is one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. The cost of living is extremely reasonable which makes it a draw for snowbirds looking for longer stays. The country has so much to discover from busy Bangkok to the unspoiled island beaches and elephant sanctuaries in the south.

Phuket

Phuket has been a retirement destination for people from around the world for some time now. It has everything – beautiful beaches, great restaurants, amazing scenery and lots of watersports.

There are plenty of things to do including elephant trekking, canoeing through mangroves, sailing and golf. Snowbirds can rent condos and villas – or stay in hotels, guesthouses and resorts.

Hua Hin

Hua Hin is another destination in Thailand with white sand beaches and world-class golf courses. Many ex-pats have invested in a second home here.

The Black Mountain Golf Course in Hua Hin, is considered one of the best golf courses in Asia. You can also discover Thai Boxing – the national sport.

Chiang Mai

Beautiful Chiang Mai in northern Thailand is not to be missed with its historic temples and museums including the magnificent Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep temple.

The area is also great for foodies, offering cooking classes to visitors.

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